Envelope sealing and stamping device



1931. M. SKOLNIK ENVELOPE SEALING AND STAMPING DEHGE Dec. 8,

Filed July 28,1930

Patented Dec. 8, 1931 f entree STA TBS;

MAX SKOLNIK, or CHIGAGOQILLINOIS/ ENVELOPE SEALING mes m m pnvion Application filed m as,

'means of semi-automatic character adapted for ready use by unskilled operators; to provide for moistening the sealing and stamp receiving parts of an envelope by a simple manual manipulation of the envelope in two corresponding ways, respectively, in relation to a common source of moisturein the process of sealing and stamping, and to provide a unitary sealing and stamp affixing imple- .ment of simple and improved constructlon and operation.

This invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which':-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the 1mplement referred to. Fig. 2 is mainly a central longitudinal section taken uprightly through the implement.

Fig. 3 is mainly a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

,. Fig. 4; is a cross section taken on the line l4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is mainly an enlarged face elevation of the stamp advance pawl and ratchet means, with the adjacent part of the housing frame shown in fragmentary form andpart in section.

The implement 1 as a whole comprises an enclosed frame or housing 2, having a removable face plate 3 in combination with the moistening means 4 and stamp magazine '5, stamp feeding mechanism 6, and astamp afiixing plunger operated stamp applying mechanism 7 The front end of the implement has a horizontal transverse, slot-like aperture 8 for 5 admitting the'flap and stamp receiving part of the envelope for moistening and stamp reception.

The moistening means 4 comprises a water tight chamber 9 open at the top for holding water. In the back part of said chamber hand pressure;* Said plunger isurged up;

1930;" Serial No. 471',245.. v

is a partition 10, back of'which is a wick or moisture feeder arranged tosupply moisture toithe upper front edgepart of'the aperture 8,whereby the envelope flap 'may'be mois tened when it is drawn through said aperture and whereby the corner of the envelope may be moistened when it is thrust inwardly, as will be understood, for reception of'a'stamp.

' The stamp magazine-:5 is in thefo rm" of a chamber l i'wh'erein ismounted'a removable spindleorspool 15 having a strip 16 of stamps rolled thereonf A spring 18 secured to the housing wall bears frictionally upon the sta-mp' roll to r etard'the feed thereof during. the operation of the device. "The feed mechanism 6 Comprises a feedroll 20, which is operably connected to thestamp alfixerf? Beneathsa-id 'roll'i-s an upwardly bearing roller 22 mounted-onthe free end ofan upwardly urged arm 23, which ,is-pivoted at its'o'pposite end24 to the housing 2, a compression spring 25- being positioned to press upward medially on said arm.

1 The stamp .afiizier comprises a plunger rod 27 mounted slidably in an "upright guide part 28- of frame 2'. his plunger on its lower end has a head'face part 30,the"back edgeof' which is formed to coact shearingly with stationary member 32 'on the frame, for clipping ofl the stamps successively and applying them to the" envelope, as Y will be apparent. The upper end of aperture 27 is provided withanenlarged' head 35 to serve as a handle for downward application of wardly at all times a compression spring 36, the tension of which is overcome by the downward hand pressure whenever a stamp is to'beapplied. v i V i In using this-device, a spool, charged with a roll of stamps, is'set in place inthe magazine 14-, removal of the face plate 3 accommodating this operation. ll i hen the-stamp spool is in; place withthe end of the stamp strip threaded between the rolls '20 and 22, and projecting into the stamp aflixing apertu-re B, as show-Ir in Fig. 2, the face plate'is restordandf then the'device is ready for use.

When an envelope is to be sealed and" stamped, the flap is first run lengthwise un-' der the lower end of wick 9, and then folded into place and the envelope is then drawn through the narrow aperture back of the sealing plate 37 In applying the stamp the upper righthand corner of the envelope is presented endwise into the aperture 8, so as to apply moisture properly from wick 9, andthen when the envelope isin place under the plunger head 30, the first stamp on the stamp strip lies over the envelope, gummed. sidedown. Then the plunger is depressed, whereby the stamp is sheared ofi and pressed down against the envelope, where it is instantly secured adhesively in place.

Asthe plunger descends the rearwardarm extending from the headBO moves the ratchet member counterclockwise. When the plungeris released, it is restored by the spring 36, and the arm on head moves the ratchet member clockwise, which in this movement engages the feed roll20 and advances the stamprollgfor a distance equal to the -length of'one stamp. This sets the machine in position ready for the next envelope.

Although but one illustrated embodiment of this invention is herein shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that some. of the details may be altered-or omitted without departing. from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim 1. A device of the class described comprising a frame having a moisture reservoir and a wick. communicating therewith and terminating. a. moisture applying face of substantiallythe same width as the gummed edge of an envelope flap, said frame being formed to admit endwise passage of a gummed. en-

velope edge past the'wiok face, and said frame, having; a spring pressure sealing attachment comprising a resilient strip secured I at one edge to said frame, and arranged to admita sealed envelope and press the gummed part of the flap against the envelope as the latter is drawn through said device.

.2. An envelope sealing and stamping machine comprising a frame, a stamp applying MAX SKOLNIK.

plunger mounted medially thereon, a stamp magazine and feed mechanism back of said plunger, said mechanism being ratchet connected thereto, a spring secured to said frame for frictionally braking a'roll of stamps in said magazine, a bearing roller directly below .;said feed mechanism, an'arm whereon said roller is mounted, said arm being pivoted to the'lower part ofsaid frame, a spring urging said arm upwardly to press said roller against a stamp, moistening means in front of saidv plungercomprising a reservoir having a. wick terminating downwardly in a moisture discharging face of oblong shape. corresponding in: dimension substantially with the width of a stamp. and with the width of the flap sealing gummed zone of an envelope respec- 

